Water-heater.



J. K. TOLES.

WATER HEATER.

APPLICATION men AFR.6.1916.

Patented D00. 31, 1918.

4 SHEETS-SHEET ln: mm"; runs co, rnmuma. vnuuuvcmu. n r

J. K. TOLES.

WATER HEATER.

APPLICATION men APR-6.1916.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Patented Dec. 31,

III/III /I/IIII/IIII snlncrou u c J. K. TOLES. WATER HEATER.

A PPLICATION FILED APR-6. 1916.

Patented Dec. 31, 1918.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

javamzzr .faZim/fayfiea nu nan-u "1n: ca. rumuma. vuuumzmn. A c.

J. K. TOLES.

WATER HEATER.

APPLICATION FILD APR. 6, l9\6.

Patented Dec. 31, 1918.

4 SHEETS-*SHEET 4- .5 m. Pndrounm. WWW/L. c.

'orrn s FTCE.

JUSTIN KAY TOLES, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

' WATER-HEATER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 31, 1918.

Application filed April 6, 1916. Serial No. 89,340.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JUSTIN KAY ToLEs, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of San Francisco, countyof San Francisco, and the State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in lVaterJ-Ieaters, of which the following is declared to be a full, clear, and exact description. g

This invention relates to water heaters, and its primary object is to provide a practically instantaneous water heater having increased capacity and efiiciency.

Another object of the invention is topro vide in a. water heater, an abnormally large heated surface over which a very thin sheet of water must pass in its transit from the inlet end to the discharge end of the heater. I

Another object is to provide a hot water heater with an improt'ed burner for 0011- suming gas and air in an inclosed chamber having a restricted discharge port for any.

escaping burnt gases.

Another obJect is to provide a water heater with a burner having a novel construct1on whereby practically all of the gas and air admitted to the inclosed chamber will be consumed.

Another object is to provide a water heater with a burner by means of which an abnormally high degree of heat may be produced in an inclosed chamber with an economic use of gas.

Another object is to provide a water heater in which the heat will be conducted into a very thin sheet of water, which travels through an abnormally long, thin passagc- 1 way, surrounding the burner, in such manner that practically all the heat will be absorbed by the thin sheet of water in its sage from the inlet to the discharge end of the heater.

Another object is to provide improved controlling means, operated by the movement of the water to the heater.

Another object is to provide improved means for closing an ignition circuit and thereby igniting the gas, uponits be1ng 1ntroduced into the combustion chamber, and

for automatically breaking the ignition circuit directly thereafter.

Other objects and advantages will occur in the course of this specification, and with all of said objects and advantages in view,

this invention consists in the several novel features hereinafter fully set forth and particularly defined in the claims. I

The invention is clearly illustrated in the drawings accompanying this specification,

' in which Figure 1, is a-view partly in side elevation and partly in central, vertical sect1on of a water heater, embodying a simple form of the present invention; Fig. 2, is a fragmental, vertical section taken on the line 22 of Fig. A; Fig. 3, is a horizontal section taken on the line 33 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4, is a horizontal section taken on the line 4:4 of Fig.1; Fig. 5, is an end view of the control mechanism looking in the direction of the arrow 5, in Fig. 1 Fig. 6,.is a horizontal section taken on the line 6--(S of Fig. 5; Fig. 7, is a fragmental side elevation of a certain switch and its operating mechanism looking inthe direction of the arrow 7 in Fig. 5; Fig. 8, is a detail central, longitudinal section through said switch mechanism; Fig. 9, is a side elevation, partly broken away, of the pump and air and water valves, looking in the direction of the arrow to a ring 12, and the upper ends of said shells are welded or otherwise secured to. domelike portions 13, 14:. The ring 12, is removably secured to the base 15, of the heater by bolts and nuts, 16, whereby the shell-s 10, 11, and ring 12, may be readily d'e tached from. the base 15.

WVithin the intermediate ,shell 11, but

spaced closely thereto. is an inner shell 17,

which extends parallel with said intermediate shell 11, and has a domelike top portion 18, paralleling the domelike portions 13, 1st, of the shells 10, 11. The space 19, between the shells 11,17. is the water space; said water space is divided into a large number of spirally arranged waterpassageways eX- tending from the bottom to the top of the cylindrical portion of the shell 17. Said spiral passageways are formed by providing outwardly pressed beads or corrugations 20, on the inner shell 17, which corrugations contact with the intermediate shell 11. Water passing through said space is caused to travel several times around the burner,in passing from the inlet to the discharge end, and is thereby caused to travel through an abnormally long passage in the form of a thin sheet of water.

A. discharge pipe 21, at the top of the domelike portion 14:, of the shell 11, opens into the water space and said discharge pipe may lead to any places where it is desired to draw off hot water and there provided with the customary faucets.

Thelower end of the shell 17, is welded or otherwise secured to a ring 22, that is bolted or otherwise fastened to a plate 23, which is placed somewhat above the base plate 15, of the heater to provide a water passageway 21, into which the water inlet pipe 25, opens through a port 26, (see Figs. 2 and 4) Said water passageway 24, connects with the j water space 19, at the bottom thereof, as is clearly shown in Fig. 1. The plate 23, hasa downwardly projecting sleeve 27, which rests upon the basefplate 15, and is bolted or otherwise secured thereto... ,WVithin said water passageway 24:, isa spirally arranged discharge flue 28 for the escape of the burnt gases, and said discharge flue leads out through the base plate 15, byway of a discharge pipe 29, a stufling box 30, being pro-' .vided around the discharge pipe 29, to make "a watertight connection between/the discharge pipe and base plate. The inlet end 31, of the discharge flue 28, opens into a cavity 32, formed on the lower side of the ,plate 23, as clearly indicated in Fig. 2-, and

said cavity opens into the combustion cham ber of the heater, whereby the burnt or escaping gases may discharge into said cavity 32, thence out through the discharge fine 28, and finally discharge through the pipe 29.

The combustion chamber 33, is contained within the inner shell 17, and in said combustion chamber is located the burner 34, of the heater. Said burner comprises a plu- .rality of superimposed, intercomm'unicating,

burner sections 35, the lowermost one of which is in direct communication with a gas and air inlet pipe 36, and with an air inlet passage 37. Each burner section comprises the inner burner shells, and air, under pres inner and outer shells.

Gas is supplied to the burner through a needle valve 45, that opens to a gas passage 46, which communicates directly with the gas inlet pipe 36; the gas from the service pipe first passes through a gas control valve 59 (see Fig. 6) and from thence passes through a pipe 47, to the needle valve 45. It is desirable to force air into the combustion chamber at, or approximately at, the pressure of the gas as practically perfect combustion is thereby obtained. Air is therefore forced under pressure to said gas inlet pipe 36, by a blower or centrifugal pump 48, which is driven by a motor 49, here shown as comprising an electric motor. The discharge pipe 50, of said blower opens into an a1r passage 51, which is divided by a wall T 52, into two air passages 53, 54, the passage 53, communicating with the gas passage 416, and gas and air inlet pipe 36, and the passage 54, communicating with the air passage 37, which leads to the outer burner shells 38. Damper valves 55, 56 are provided for the air passages 53, 54:, to regulate the flow of air therethrough so: as to proper combustible mixture.

Means are provided under the control' of the movement of the water passing to the heater, for starting and stopping the motor, and therewith the blower or air pump, for simultaneously admitting; gas to the burner, for igniting the gas mixture and directly thereafter, for shutting off the ignition means, although the heater continues with its operation of heating water, so long as water is being discharged from the heater, it being understood that when water is not being drawn off, the operative parts of the device are inactive.

In the form shown, 57, (see Fig. 6) is a combined water and gas valve, of which 58, is the water chamber and 59, the gas chanr her. The water service pipe 60, connects with the intake end 61, of the water chant ber 58, and the water is discharged through a discharge port 62, into which is screwed the pipe 25, which leads to the heater, (see Fig. 3). drical portion in which slides a piston 62,

that is mounted on a stem 63, \vvhichextendsto be observed that the discharge port- 62, lies in the path of movement of the piston, whereby communication is established between the inlet and discharge ports of the water control valve by the movement of said piston across the discharge port. V

The gas service pipe is connected to the inlet end 65, of the gas valve and said inlet obtain :the

Said water chamber has a cylin loo 1 ,aeeasve end is controlled by a valve 66, carried by a stem 67, which extends out through a stufting box at the rear end of the valve casing. The valve chamber 59, has a discharge port which connects with the gas pipe-4 that leads to the needle valve 45, of the heater. The two valve stems 63, 67-, are connected together, so as to move in unison, by a bar 68, secured upon their protruding ends, whereby gas is admitted to the burner as the water passes through the water valve.

The water valveis arranged to operate switch mechanism for closing a circuit to the pump motor '49, and to a spark plug 69, (see Figs. 1 and 3), and thereby supply the burner with air under pressure and to ignite the gas as soon as it is admitted to the burner. Evidently various forms of switches may be employed for accomplishing this result, but the one which I have chosen to illustrate is particularly adapted for the purpose.

Referring now to Figs. 5 to 8 inclusive, 7 0, 71, designate two tumble switches which are rigidly connected together by a bar 72, and are journaled upon supports 73, by hollow 't-runnions 74. The bar 72, has an eccentrically located pin 72*, which extends through the forked lower end of a downturned end portion 68, of the bar 68, which connects the two valve stems of the water and gas valves. The arrangement is such that the reciprocatory movements of said bar rock the tumble switches to permit shifting of the mercury from one end thereof to the other.

The two hollow switches 70, 71, and their supports are preferably made of insulating material, and the supports 73, are carried by brackets 7 3 secured-to and extending down from the valve support. The tumble switch 7 0, has a chamber 75, extending from one end to a point slightly beyond its axis of rotation, and said chamber is closed by a cap 76, and packing between the cap and body of the switch. A quantity of mercury 77, is contained in said chamber 75, which in the operation of the device shifts from one end of the chamber to the other; projecting into said chamber through the hollow trunnions 74, are wire cont-act members 78, 79, which have disk-like heads 80, upon their ends. The supports 7 3, are hollow and the hollows thereof contain quantities of mercury 81, 82, in which. project the disklike ends '80, 80, and wires 83, 84, of the m0- tor circuit enter the hollows of said supports and extend into the mercury; thus at certain times electrical communication is "es: tablished between the wires 83, '84, through the mercury 77, contact pieces 74, disks 80, and mercury 81, 82.

The tumble switch 71, and its electrical connections are substantially the same as those of the tumble switch 70, but the chamber thereof is divided into two sections 85, 86, both being of conical formation, the one 86, lying on one side of the axis of the tumble switch, and the one 85, lying on the other side of the axis, but extending beyond the same and connecting with the chamber 86, through a small port 87. A quantity of mercury 88, is contained in the chambers of the tumble switch 71, and may pass from one chamber to the other in the operation of the device. At certain times as will be hereafter set forth, the mercury falls into the space located between the two contact pieces 78, 7 9, and establishes electrical communication between the wires 89, 90, that form part of the electric circuit which leads to the spark plug 69.

In Figs. 9, '10,, I have illustrated a control for regulating the volume of air admitted to the air pump 48, the same consisting of a register plate 91, having inlet openings adapted to register with inlet openings in the side wall of the pump, and said register plate being rotativel'y mounted on the pump wall and connected to the bar 68, by a link 93, secured to the register plate, and a post 94, secured to and projecting up from the bar 68'; obviously whenever the piston of the water valve is moved back under the influence of the incoming water, the post 94, is moved along and the register plate turned upon its axis to increase the size of the inlet openings, thereby admitting a volume of air to the pump in proportion to the volume of water admitted to the burner.

In the operation of the device, the motor remains stationary so long as no water is being drawn from the discharge pipe, the gas and the water valves are closed, and the entire apparatus is inert. Upon opening any faucets in the discharge pipe, the pressure in the service pipe opens the valve 62, thereby admitting water through the water valve, through the intake pipe 25, and into the Water circulating channels of the heater. The opening movement of the water valve causes a simultaneous movement of the gas valve 66, thereby admitting gas through the gas valve pipe 47, needle valve 45, passages 46, and 36, to the inner shells of the burners. The opening movement of the water valve simultaneously moves back the bar 68, rocks the tumble switches 70, 71 from the position seen in full lines in Fig. 7, to that shown in dotted lines in said figure, whereby the mercury contained in the chambers 7 5, 85, runsdown into the ends of said chambers adjacent the axis of the tumble switches, and establishes electrical connection between the terminals of the motor circuit and spark plug circuit, thus starting the motor and producinga spark with the spark plug. The motor being started air is forced through the passageways 51, part entering the passageway 36, and intermixing with the gas passing to the inner, shells of the burners, and part passing up through the passageway 87, and entering the space between the inner and outer shells ofv the burner, and passing out through the annular openingsaround the nipples of the inner shells, at which places combustion takes place. Ail-intensely hot flame iscreated within the combustion chamber, which is directed toward the inner shell 17, andv practically all of the heat therefrom is absorbed by the thin sheet of water passing up through the spiral water passageways between the inner and intermediate shells 1 7, 11, after which it discharges out through the discharge pipe 21. The products of combustion are practically consumed'within the combustion chamber, although any escaping vburnt gases will find their way out through the passage 32, and thence out through the spiral discharge flue 28, finally' discharging out into the atmosphere through the discharge pipe 29. It is to be observed that water entering the heater,

flows past said spiral discharge flue 28, and absorbs any heat that may come from the burnt gases passing through said spiral discharge flue, and thus practically all of the heat developed in the combustion chamberis utilized, consequently the water is heated to a high degree of temperature while passing through the thin water space between the inner and intermediate shells of the heater.

plug circuit, flows through the port 87, and

terminals of the motor circuit and the mer cury in chamber 86, falls through the port 87, passing the contactpieces 74, without touching them, and falls into the outer end of the chamber 85, thus returning to the original position without making any 0011- tact between the terminals of the spark plug circuit.

More or less variation of the exact details of construction is possible without departingfrom the spirit of this invention, and I desire,-therefore, not to limit myself to the exact form of construction shown and described, but intend in the following claims topoint out all of the invention disclosed herein.

'I ,claim as new and desire to secure by 7 escape Vent leading out from said-eombust1on chamber, a second shell surroundingsaid first mentioned shell throughout in close proximity thereto, the thin space between saidshells being divided into; a plurality of spirally arranged water passageways,

there being aiwater inlet space open ng to the lower ends of said spiral water passage ways, and an outlet water space opening to the upper ends of said spiral water passageways, an outer shell spaced away from said second named shell and paralleling the same throughout, and inlet and dischargepipes opening to said water inlet and outlet spaces. i

2-. A water heater comprising in combination, a base, a burner thereabove, two closely spaced dome shaped shells surrounding said burner, thejinner shell being closed above the burner and forming a combustion chamber inclosing the burner, and having outwardly projecting, spirally arranged, beads contacting with the surrounding shell, to provide a plurality of spirally arranged, thin water passageways between the shells,

there beingia water inlet-space opening to the lower ends of said spiral water passageways, and an outlet water space opening to the upper ends of said spiral water. passageways, an outer shell spaced away from said surrounding shell and paralleling the samethroughout, and inlet and discharge pipes opening to said water inlet and outlet.

spaces. 4

3. A water heater comprising in combination, two parallel closely spaced shells having closed domelike upper ends, one of said shells being formed with spirally arranged beads contacting with the face of the other shell to form a plurality of thin, spirally arranged water passageways, there being a water inlet space opening to the lower ends of said splral water passageways, and an outlet water space opening to the upper ends of said spiral water passagewayaan outer shell spaced away therefrom and paralleling the same throughout, and inlet and discharge pipes opening tosaid water inlet and outlet spaces, I

4. A water heater comprising in combinav tion, a base, a burner thereabove, two closely spaced, parallel shells surrounding said burner and forming a closed combustion chamber therefor, closed above the burner, there being a restricted vent leading out from said combustion chamber, the inner shell having outwardly pressed,-spirally arranged beads contacting with the inner face of the other shell to form a plurality of thin spirally arranged water passageways between the shells, there being a water inlet space opening to the lower ends of said spiral water passageways, and an outlet water space opening to the upper ends of said spiral water passageways, an outer shell spaced away therefrom and paralleling the same throughout, and inlet and discharge pipes opening to said water inlet and outlet spaces.

5. A water heater, comprising in combination, a base plate, a shell supporting plate spaced therefrom to leave a water space therebetween, a burner supported above said plates, a shell secured to and supported by said base plate, an inner shell supported by said shell supporting plate in close proximity to said other shell and extending parallel therewith, one of said shells having a plurality of spirally arranged beads on one side contacting with the adjacent face of the other shell and forming therewith a plurality of spirally arranged water passageways, opening to said water space, said inner shell forming a combustion chamber around the burner, there being a water inlet space opening to the lower ends of said spiral water passageways, and an outlet water space opening to the upper ends of said spiral water passageways, an outer shell secured to said base plate and paralleling said other shells throughout their extent and out of contact therewith, and inlet and discharge pipes opening to said water inlet and outlet spaces.

6. A water heater comprising in combination, a base plate, a shell supporting plate spaced therefrom to leave a water space therebetween, a burner supported above said plates, a shell secured to and supported by said base plate, an inner shell supported by said shell supporting plate in close proximity to said other shell and extending parallel therewith, one of said shells having a plurality of spirally arranged beads on one side contacting with the adjacent face of the other shell and forming therewith a plurality of spirally arranged water passageways, opening to said water space, said inner shell forming a combustion chamber around the burner, there being a water inlet space opening to the lower ends of said spiral water passageways, and an outlet water space opening to the upper ends of said spiral water passageways, an outer shell spaced away from said shells and paralleling the same throughout, a discharge flue opening from said combustion chamber and leading through said water space between the base plate and plate thereabove, and

inlet and discharge. pipes opening to said Water inlet and outlet spaces.

7. In a water heater, the combination of an outer and intermediate shell, which are entirely out of direct contact with each other and form a thermotic insulating space therebetween, an inner shell havinga plurality of spirally arranged outward projections formed thereon and forming with the intermediate shell a. plurality of spiral water passageways, said inner and intermediate shells being spaced close together so as to provide a thin passageway, and said inner shell forming also a combustion chamber provided with a restricted discharge vent, there being a water inlet space opening to the lower ends of said spiral passageways, and an outlet water space opening to the upper ends of said spiral passageways, inlet discharge pipes opening to said water inlet and outlet spaces and a gas burner located in said combustion chamber, said combustion chamber being closed above the burner.

8. A water heater comprising in combination, a base plate, a shell supporting plate thereabove, a burner above said plates, a ring detachably connected with said base plate, an outer and an intermediate shell secured to said ring, said shells forming therebetween a heat insulating space, an inner shell secured to said shell supporting plate, said inner shell being spaced in close proximity to the intermediate shell and having a plurality of spirally arranged beads contacting with the adjacent face of the intermediate shell and forming a plurality of spirally arranged thin water passageways, there being a water inlet space opening to the lower ends of said spiral passageways, and an outlet water space opening to the up per ends of said spiral passageways, inlet discharge pipes opening to said water inlet and outlet spaces.

9. A water heater, comprising the combination of a base, a burner thereon, and three parallel shells mounted on the base, said base and inner shell being formed and arranged to provide a closed combustion chamber having a restricted escape vent, the inner and intermediate shells forming a narrow water space surrounding the combustion chamber and the intermediate and outer shells forming a dead air space surrounding the water space, substantially asset forth.

10. A water heater comprising the combination of a base provided with gas and air passageways, a burner on the base, said passageways leading to said burner, and three parallel shells mounted on the base, the intermediate and outer shells being out of direct contact with each other and said base and shells being formed and arranged to provide a closed combustion chamber, a water space in communication with the annular passageway, and a dead air space surbase, a third shell paralleling said other shells and supported by said shell supportmg plate entirely out of direct contact with each other, said shells being formed and arranged to provide a closed combustion chamber around the burner and a space for a film of water between two of the shells, there'being a water space between said base and shell supporting plate communicating 5 with the water space'between the shells, in

'let and outlet water passages to said water space, and a restricted escape passageway for spent gases, passing through the space between the base and shell supporting plate.

JUSTIN KAY TOLES.

Copies 01 this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the 'Gommissioner of Patents, Washington, 10.0. 

